Researchers have come against the plan of the Australian government to eradicate the invasive carp by releasing a virus — a strain of herpes called CyHV-3. They say that the plan, formulated after an investigation that spent Aus$15 million, may not be effective.

A letter by six researchers in Science magazine says that the plan of biocontrol is not made enough data.

The fish variety carp, first introduced to Australia from Europe in the nineteenth century, became the biggest disruptions to ecosystems after a particular variety escaped from farms to outside.

The fish, which produce a million eggs in a breeding cycle, and stirs up sediments affecting aquatic plants as they feed on the river bottom, is estimated to have an economic impact of Aus$500 million a year.

The National Carp Control Plan’s (NCCP) coordinator, Matt Barwick told theNature that the body welcomes the debates and is in the process of confirming the efficacy of the plan.

Several researchers have also warned against other potential ecological impacts of the plan, including rivers getting clogged with decaying fish corpses and disruption in the ecosystem.